The mining industry is one of the heaviest users of Eskom's electricity. Clearly, then, the impact of load shedding has been felt by this industry in a major way, so it is no surprise to learn that many are considering a shift to renewable energy.
According to Andrew van Zyl, director, partner, and principal consultant at SRK Consulting, mines are considering, and in many cases already, using energy from renewable sources. This includes solar, wind, and green hydrogen, supplemented with pumped storage.
"The low-hanging fruit for decarbonising mining in South Africa is clearly to replace its coal-generated electricity with renewable-generated electricity Companies are doing this in several ways: by developing their own solar or wind generating capacity, partnering with energy providers, or broadening their corporate mandates to acquire businesses specialised in renewable energy," says Van Zyl.
